LOUGHTON-BASED fighter James DeGale is set to get a much tougher sparring partner than the England cricket captain.

Twenty-three-year-old DeGale could swap the Loughton Academy for a camp in America with modern great Floyd ‘pretty boy’ Mayweather.

Britain’s own golden boy, who triumphed at the Olympics in Beijing, has said he would love to fly out there next month and pit his wits against the former best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

“To be in the gym with Floyd will be unbelievable,” he told the BBC. “Floyd is one of my favourite fighters ever. If I’m half the fighter he is, I’ll be cool.”

DeGale’s trainer Jim McDonnell thinks he could only improve as a result.

“We’re going to use the summer vacation as part of James’ learning curve. All we’ve go to do with Mayweather is finalise the details,” he revealed.

“We also have an option to train with Ronald ‘Winky’ Wright in Miami and Jermain Taylor.

“We want James to train and spar with world champions.”

DeGale is in the fledgling stages of his professional career, having won both of his opening fights, while Mayweather boasts a record of 39 wins and no losses.